Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1887-05-12
DANGEROUS SCIENCE.
Results OF Recent French Expert
ments In Iypnotism--i How One FER
son May obtain Unlimited Power
over Another.

You have frequently noticed the
study of what is called hypnotism by
Prof Charcot aud his chef dc cliniQuc,
Nj. Babinski. at the Salpetriere hospi-
tai here. writes a Paris, correspondent |
OF The New York. Medical Journal.
The Nancy school has done much to
unravel, rs far MS possible, these ,nex'
planned mysteries, which, under the
name Of mesmer.sm, remained so long !
the objects of simple curiosity aud
amusement, but the phenomena OF hyp-
notism are now being submitted to
rigorous scientific investigation, and 1t
is seen how vast the field Is and how
many medical and social problems the
study raises Whether or not the use
of magnets for transferring such symp-
toms from one patient to another Will
ever amount to anything ofreal value
only time can show. At any rate hyp-
notism or suggestion" to the nypnot-
ed patient is u subject of medical in
vcStigation that has attracted great
deal of attention for tho past week or
SO among all classes here, owing to the
fact that its modico legal aspect Is now
under examination. II Is easy to see
that il Is poSs bic for m individual to nc
quiro an unlimited power of action upon
another, SO rs to be able to impose his
VIII upon, him and cause him to do
whatever he likes Ii this can be
proved the sphere of the legal response
bility will be greatly modified.
Public opinion in France has been
much moved by these matters, and the
government was urged TO appoint n
committee TO examine into the quos-
ton This has been done, and tho
comm ttce is holding sittings every
Thursday at the Saltpetrcre hospital
Tho committee is composed Of magis'
trates and professors Of mental medi-
emo, with DR.. v BroubTdel, the Paris
Professor Of legal medicine. The prin-
| cipal questions so far examined into are
the follow ing: Can person cause AN
other, when In state Of hypnotlsm, TO
| to sign receipts for money not re-
ceivedp The mode OF experimentation
is as follows: A female patient, Mile,
A., is forced into the letharglc sleep
by pressure on n suggested hypnotic
point. when, by 81 GIT friction on
the forhcad, she passes into the SOM
nambulistc state. Prof. Brouardel then
approaches her and asks her II she VIII
accept n loan of 50 francs. At first
she refuses, but on the suggestion be-
ing forced upon her she gradually
wcakens, and finally consents to &C.
ccpt the offer, A stamped receipt Is
Is then drawn up with every possible
legal precaution, and tho patient hor-
self Is quite anxious that there should
be no mistake about II. She then signs
1t and Dr. Brouardel puts his hand into
his pocket but does not offer to give
her the money. She Is then awakened
and acknowledges the receipt was
signed by her, but can not remember
under what circumstances she signed
II or whether or not she got tho
money. Legally, the receipt Is quite
valid, and according to the present law
tho holder of IL could collect payment
II the signcr had any property OF
means of payment
In regard to the second matter, that
Of compelling n person to draw up u
will in a certain way. the experiment
was equally successful. Mile. Is. is
plunged into the hypnotic state, and
DR. Babinsk then tells her that II is
absolutely necessary for her to make
her will nj once and in his favor. She
objects at first, saying that she Is too
young to die. etc. This lasts about ton
minutes, and she goes on to say also that
she wishes to give hor property to her
mother and other relations, but after
persistent persuasion and keeping up
the suggestion that IL Is better to give
everything to DIR. Babinski she Mt last
begins to weaken and finally accepts
the proposition, saying that her proper
~ consists OF about 80 francs that she
had saved, and that she had ring, q
brooch, and n pair OF earrings All
this, her sole property, she then agrees
TO bequeath to DR.. Babinski. and the
next Thursday is appointed for the
signing Of the will. A notary Is tc
draw up the document, and she will
sign ii. Moreover, DR.. Babinski sug
gcsts to her to say nothing about 1t to
anyone in the meantime, and to say
when asked that she acted Of her own
free will and consent, and that she was
not forced to act by anybody.
The appointed day arrives. and it Is
noticed that the girl has been rather
ndgcty and nervous since early morn
Ing, and say IS that she has something
TO do, but does not remember exactly
what il is. On being put into the SOM
nambulistic state, however, she remem
bcrcd her promise. and when one of the
J bystandcrs is introduced as lawyer
She Immediately draws up her will and
gives all that she has to the doctor.
This is duly witnessed, and then the
lawyers of the committee question hcl
us to whether she Is acting with com
pctc freedom. She replies that she
has done it all of her own free will
I that she knows she has a poor family,
but she would rather give every thing
she has to DIR. Babnski. She says, how
ever, that she is obliged to do it. bu
when asked for what reason can no
tell. When she is awakened she re
!. pcats the same story.
One of the curious sides OF this mat
ter is shown in the religious journal
IL Unicers, which seems 10 see a terri
bic hcresy in the study of hypnotism
I and denounces the new science AZ
, dangerous to morality" In his stud
les NJ. Charcot called in the aid OF in
!. Simultaneous photography, and he ha'
, .taken" his patients in every phase
and attitude of their com plants